by our College Data Analytics TeamA degree in Mathematics & Statistics involves the study of Mathematics And Statistics. Instructional Programs That Focus On The Systematic Study Of Logical Symbolic Language And Its Applications. Continue reading for the essential details every mathematics & statistics student should know — including career paths, salary data, the skills you will develop, and the best colleges offering mathematics & statistics programs.
Nationwide, mathematics & statistics is a popular field of study, with 47,270 degrees awarded annually.
Our 2026 Best Mathematics & Statistics Schools ranking analyzes these 1,374 schools to determine the best overall colleges for mathematics & statistics students. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of mathematics & statistics programs later in this article.
Programs in Mathematics & Statistics develop a specific mix of skills, knowledge, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in the occupations mathematics & statistics graduates commonly enter.
Skills built by a mathematics & statistics program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:
Based on O*NET data, a mathematics & statistics major emphasizes the following knowledge areas:
There are several mathematics & statistics degree levels. The table below shows the typical length of the most common levels, and how many graduates earn each one.
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate | Varies | 10 |
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 4,433 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 27,586 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 13,174 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 2,054 |
People currently working in careers related to mathematics & statistics tend to have obtained the following education levels.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Bachelor’s degree | 53.5% |
| Master’s degree | 22.0% |
| Doctoral degree | 6.5% |
| Post-doctoral training | 3.8% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 3.7% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 2.7% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 2.6% |
| Some college courses | 2.5% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 1.6% |
| First professional degree | 0.7% |
| Post-master’s certificate | 0.4% |
View the chart below to get an idea of what level of education most of those in mathematics & statistics careers hold.
Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*
Majoring in mathematics & statistics opens doors to numerous career paths. Here are some of the most common occupations related to mathematics & statistics.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to mathematics & statistics.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Financial Specialists, All Other | 691,110 | 6.5% |
| Financial Risk Specialists | 684,551 | -3.8% |
| Business Intelligence Analysts | 585,851 | 1.3% |
| Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education | 571,954 | 1.8% |
| Clinical Research Coordinators | 542,888 | 10.4% |
| Data Scientists | 507,848 | 8.1% |
| Management Analysts | 484,759 | 12.6% |
| Fraud Examiners, Investigators and Analysts | 471,150 | -1.2% |
The U.S. Department of Education tracks median earnings of mathematics & statistics graduates 1, 4, and 5 years after completion. Wages typically rise as graduates gain experience.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $58,194 |
| 4 years | $69,956 |
| 5 years | $81,225 |
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study earnings tracker.
Salaries for mathematics & statistics graduates vary widely by occupation. The following table shows the top highest-paying careers mathematics & statistics grads often go into.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Water Resource Specialists | $179,716 |
| Business Intelligence Analysts | $143,840 |
| Natural Sciences Managers | $132,227 |
| Statisticians | $130,349 |
| Financial Risk Specialists | $127,364 |
| Financial Quantitative Analysts | $126,371 |
| Bioinformatics Technicians | $121,896 |
| Biostatisticians | $121,594 |
With 1,374 different mathematics & statistics programs to choose from, finding the best fit can be a challenge. We have analyzed these schools to produce unbiased mathematics & statistics school rankings to help you.
Those considering mathematics & statistics, you may also want to explore other closely related fields of study within the same broad area.
| Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Mathematics | 25,518 |
| Applied Mathematics | 11,002 |
| Statistics | 9,603 |
| Mathematics and Statistics, Other | 575 |
| Applied Statistics | 572 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
